All states provide some degree of “asset protection” through their state exemption laws. Such laws shield certain types of assets, such as homestead, wages, annuities, life insurance and retirement funds from creditor claims. This issue of the APN is the second of two parts addressing the most frequent errors people make in attempting to implement asset protection on their own by using (or failing to use) state exemption laws.
May
01
State Exemption Laws: Pitfalls to Avoid (Part 1)
All states provide some degree of “asset protection” through state exemption laws which shield certain types of assets, such as homestead, wages, annuities, life insurance and retirement funds (“exempt assets”). This issue of the APN is the first of two parts addressing the most frequent failings of individuals attempting to implement asset protection on their own by using (or failing to properly use) state exemption laws.
Jun
01
Why Pay More In Estate Taxes?
Most issues of the APN dealing with offshore trusts have focused on the use of such trusts for asset protection. Another, very important, use of a certain type of offshore trust is to effect an estate tax savings. This is accomplished by “freezing” the value of trust assets vis-a-vis the settlor’s estate at current values.
Jan
01
An Overview of Offshore Annuities
Contractual arrangements which qualify as annuities for U.S. income tax purposes provide a tax-deferred (not tax-free) environment within which investments can grow. “Tax-deferred” means that, as long as certain statutory and regulatory requirements are satisfied, no U.S. income tax will be imposed on the earnings and gains generated within the annuity contract.
Dec
01
US Tax Law Affecting Offshore Planning
In this issue we need to get a little bit technical: We will be discussing selected U.S. tax laws which affect the formation and operation of certain offshore entities.
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